henryf
Well-Known Member
An interesting little article in this month’s mag to say that the 2026 SIBS will be going ahead. Princess and Fairline have committed to attend but Sunseeker hadn’t - at time of publication. The Beneteau group represented in the UK by Ancasta have also decided not to attend choosing to host their own show instead sometime in September.
We are fresh from the British motor yacht show in Swanwick which to my mind beats SIBS by a country mile, certainly in terms of concentrated access to motor boats. A great selection, being largely owner attended there was no difficulty in getting on boats and you could have sensible conversations with representatives from all the brands who hadn’t been worn down by coach loads of people just there for a day out.
Did it have the overflow of smaller stands that SIBS enjoys? No, but then if I want a summer house in the garden, a wine subscription or a massage chair I’ll do my homework online and visit a few suppliers in my own time. If I need boating stuff then let Google be your friend and have it delivered, alternatively visit your local chandlery who are only going to be the same people at SIBS anyway. Knock the cost of attending of your prices and clean up.
If SIBS is your thing then don’t miss this year’s show, it may not be around for much longer if the big players decide enough is enough. The British motor yacht show is, in relative terms pretty much free to attend for exhibitors and can only go from strength to strength. If they are prepared to pony up the cost of SIBS then Dusseldorf and Cannes offer impressive platforms to manufacturers. Dusseldorf is like the best ever London boat show on steroids and Cannes offers a host of European brands right up to impressive superyachts.
I do think boat shows are important because a bit like clothes you need to see them in the flesh. Websites are OK but if I’m honest I’m not sure boat builders have really harnessed their potential to full effect yet. The size and cost of boats means you aren’t going to have loads of demo models floating around so a few cherry picked shows Will always be needed. But is SIBS one of them?
We are fresh from the British motor yacht show in Swanwick which to my mind beats SIBS by a country mile, certainly in terms of concentrated access to motor boats. A great selection, being largely owner attended there was no difficulty in getting on boats and you could have sensible conversations with representatives from all the brands who hadn’t been worn down by coach loads of people just there for a day out.
Did it have the overflow of smaller stands that SIBS enjoys? No, but then if I want a summer house in the garden, a wine subscription or a massage chair I’ll do my homework online and visit a few suppliers in my own time. If I need boating stuff then let Google be your friend and have it delivered, alternatively visit your local chandlery who are only going to be the same people at SIBS anyway. Knock the cost of attending of your prices and clean up.
If SIBS is your thing then don’t miss this year’s show, it may not be around for much longer if the big players decide enough is enough. The British motor yacht show is, in relative terms pretty much free to attend for exhibitors and can only go from strength to strength. If they are prepared to pony up the cost of SIBS then Dusseldorf and Cannes offer impressive platforms to manufacturers. Dusseldorf is like the best ever London boat show on steroids and Cannes offers a host of European brands right up to impressive superyachts.
I do think boat shows are important because a bit like clothes you need to see them in the flesh. Websites are OK but if I’m honest I’m not sure boat builders have really harnessed their potential to full effect yet. The size and cost of boats means you aren’t going to have loads of demo models floating around so a few cherry picked shows Will always be needed. But is SIBS one of them?
! We can but dream.
